Feasibility of Transferring Drinking Water from the Senegal River in the East (Backel) to the West Center (Fatick) in Senegal

Every year, 24 billion m3 of fresh water are thrown into the sea by the Senegal River, while most of the country’s populations do not have permanent access to drinking water. Also, agricultural land, which extends as far as the eye can see, is only used during winter periods, thus slowing down the development of agriculture. It is in this context that this article studies the feasibility of transferring drinking water from the Senegal River in the east of the country to the center-west through a transfer canal to meet the drinking water needs of the populations. In addition, we intend to flood the fossil valleys from this canal and recharge the aquifers. The watershed resulting from the juxtaposition of the two watersheds which dominate central Senegal has a slightly descending profile from Bakel to Fatick. This promotes gravity flow of water over 542 km. This analysis is carried out by the Glabal Mapper software and SRTM1 images. We report that all water needs have been estimated at approximately 70 m3/s based on the ANDS census in 2023, the distribution of arable land and groundwater recharge areas in the country. The waters flowing in the canal have depths (draft) not reaching 4.6 m. These results are obtained by applying the Manning Strickler equation, on a channel with a straight cross-section in the shape of a trapezoid and lined with sand concrete. The canal thus designed will bring water to populations and arid zones in the central and central-western regions of the country where problems persist. However, it will be necessary to overcome a difference in altitude of 96 m over 30 km to raise the water from the river to the threshold of the canal in order to ensure the flow in the latter. We have retained two calculation variants (Canal + Pumping or Single Pumping) whose pumping stations will be powered by solar fields. Due to the heavy investments, the installations upstream of the canal will be modular over time. Consequently, the central canal project will be constructed in six (6) phases of ten (10) years.

Comparative Study between Dielectric Properties and Compaction Parameters: Case Study on Three Laterite Quarries

This work studies the variability of the relationship between relative permittivity and compaction parameters as a function of certain geotechnical properties for different laterite types. This study allows to purpose the dielectric permittivity as a third compaction parameter allowing to obtain a non destructive control méthod. Preliminary studies on Diack laterite had shown a good correlation. Additional investigations are carried out to verify the possibility of generalizing this correlation to three new laterite careers: Ngoudiane, Yéba and Fandene. To proceed, particle size analysis, Atterberg limits, specific weight tests and compaction according to the modified Proctor test were performed on laterite samples. Using the radar method, experimental permittivities are determined for laterite samples by the point method of propagation times and confirmed by the diffraction hyperbole method. The geotechnical and radar data obtained allowed correlations between permittivity and water content on the one hand and between permittivity and dry density on the other. The results show that the maximum dry density as a function of permittivity corresponds with the optimum Proctor, which confirms the results previously obtained on Diack laterite.

Urban Dynamics and Emergence of New Centers in the Dakar Region (Senegal)

Due to the status of the Dakar region as the former capital of AOF (French West Africa) and current capital of the Republic of Senegal, it is home to a very large part of the population and most of the socio-economic, administrative and cultural activities on a very small area of the country (0.28%). This situation makes it a very attractive region and subject to strong land pressure. The objective of this article is to study past and current urban dynamics as well as changes in natural spaces, in order to identify new urban centers. The methodological approach consists in analyzing satellite images to understand the evolution of different forms of spatial occupation in the Dakar region, and to study population movement flows and urban forms in order to reveal new urban centers. The results of the study show that the Dakar urban space is characterized by diverse forms which express a heterogeneous set of spaces. They also revealed the emergence of new clusters between 1986 and 2016, notably Ngor, Grand Yoff, Parcelles Assainies in the North-West, and Keur Massar and the North of the communes of Rufisque in the eastern part of the Dakar region.

Profile of Amoebic vs. Pyogenic Liver Abscess and Comparison of Demographical, Clinical, Radiological, and Laboratory Profiles of These Patients from Three Secondary Care Centers in Senegal

Background: Liver abscess (LA) is a suppurated collection in the hepatic parenchyma. In Africa, liver abscesses are most often of amoebic origin, but more recently, the rate of pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) has increased. Objective: to assess the epidemiological characteristics, clinical features, biological radiological findings, and outcomes of patients with PLA and with amebic liver abscess (ALA) in order to determine the potential factors that may help improve diagnosis and treatment for LA in the context of secondary care centers with limited medical supports. Methods: Retrospective review of LA diagnosed and treated at three secondary care centers in Thiès over 11 years. Results: 61 patients, were included, 52.45% had ALA and 47.54% had PLA. Males were predominant (79.31% in PLA vs 65.63% in ALA, p = 0.2). The median age was 38 years for the PLA group vs 39 years for the ALA group (p = 0.4). In both groups, the most common symptom was right upper abdominal pain (81.97%), hepatomegaly (81.97%). The PLA group had a higher prevalence of fever (79.31% vs 46.88%, p = 0,009), chills (51.72% vs 18.75%, p = 0.007), right basi-thoracic pain (55.17% vs 28.13%, p = 0.032), and jaundice (55.17% vs 28%, p = 0.032). There was no difference in radiological features between PLA and ALA. Patients with PLA had a higher level of White blood cell (20.600 vs 15.400, p = 0.014). The most common bacteria identified in PLA were Escherichia coli (58.8%). All patients had received antibiotic therapy, which was combined with aspiration puncture (37.3%), transcutaneous drainage (43.3%), and surgery (9.0%). Seven patients had received antibiotic therapy alone and all had amoebic abscesses. Elsewhere, the occurrence of complications was higher in PLA cases (75.86% vs 37.5%, p = 0.003). The overall hospital mortality rate was 13.11%, higher in cases of PLA (24.14% vs 3.13%, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Clinical and biological features were more severe in PLA. But radiological features cannot be used to distinguish between PLA and ALA.

Geographical Accessibility to Basic Infrastructures and Services in Rural Senegal: The Case of the Niakhar Area

Access to basic infrastructure and services is a factor in economic development and an important aspect in combatting social and spatial disparities. But this access is often subject to several constraints, including geographical accessibility. In this article, we aim to analyze the geographical accessibility to basic infrastructure and services in the Niakhar area, using the improved two step floating catchment area method and local spatial association indicators. The results reveal that the areas with high accessibility to health and education infrastructures and services are mainly located along the south-east and north-west gradient, while those with low accessibility are found in the south-west and north-east center. They also show high accessibility to trade services in the center of the study area.

Hydrological Modelling of the Casamance River in Its Upstream Section (Basin at Kolda Level) to Predict Its Future States as a Function of Different Stresses

Flow records for stations in the Casamance basin are incomplete. Several gaps were noted over the 1980-2021 study period, making this study tedious. The aim of this study is to assess the potential impact of climate change on the flow of the Casamance watershed at Kolda. To this end, hydrological series are simulated and then extended using the GR2M rainfall-runoff model, with a monthly time step. Projected climate data are derived from a multi-model ensemble under scenarios SSP2-4.5 (scenario with additional radiative forcing of 4.5 W/m2 by 2099) and SSP5-8.5 (scenario with additional radiative forcing of 8.5 W/m2 by 2099). An analysis of the homogeneity of the rainfall data series from the Kolda station was carried out using KhronoStat software. The Casamance watershed was then delimited using ArcGIS to determine the morphometric parameters of the basin, which will be decisive for the rest of the work. Next, monthly evapotranspiration was calculated using the formula proposed by Oudin et al. This, together with rainfall and runoff, forms the input data for the model. The GR2M model was then calibrated and cross-validated using various simulations to assess its performance and robustness in the Casamance watershed. The version of the model with the calibrated parameters will make it possible to extend Casamance river flows to 2099. This simulation of future flows with GR2M shows a decrease in the flow of the Casamance at Kolda with the two scenarios SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 during the rainy period, and almost zero flows during the dry season from the period 2040-2059.

Establishment of a Geometric Geoid Model and Evaluation of the EGM2008 and EIGEN-6CA Models over the Dakar-Thies-Mbour Triangle in Senegal

High-accuracy geoid determination is an essential goal that many groups of scientists and countries are striving to achieve. Techniques for determining geoid models have evolved over time. Unfortunately, this all-important determination requires relatively substantial technical and financial resources, depending on the type of geoid to be determined. This situation justifies the inadequacy, and sometimes absence, of accurate geoid models in many countries, despite the new challenges of altimetric positioning using space or satellite positioning techniques. This study focuses on the establishment of a geometric geoid model using simplistic techniques that are accessible and applicable in restricted or wide areas, with or without gravimetric data. The study was applied to the Dakar-Thiès-Mbour triangle, the two regions in the extreme west of Senegal that are home to the most infrastructure projects with the highest socio-economic stakes, as well as mines currently being exploited, and therefore the highest stakes in terms of positioning. This study also enabled us to assess the accuracy of a number of global field models in Senegal, which are used by some professionals for altimetric positioning using Global Positioning Satellite Systems (GNSS) in the absence of a local geoid model. The estimated geoid model is based on the determination of undulation at various sample points in the study area. To this end, a campaign of GNSS observations and direct levelling was carried out on the various points spread across the study area. These measurements were then used to determine the undulation at each point. Bilinear interpolation was used to deduce the undulations throughout the study area, based on the altimeter conversion grid. This grid was evaluated using GPS/level control points.

Restoration or Rehabilitation of the Faleme River Affected by Mining Activities: What Methods?

The Faleme River, a West Africa long transboundary stream (625 km) and abundant flow (>1100 million m3) is affected by severe erosion because of mining activities that takes place throughout the riverbed. To preserve this important watercourse and ensure the sustainability of its services, selecting and implementing appropriates restorations techniques is vital. In this context, the purpose of this paper was to present an overview of the actions and techniques that can be implemented for the restoration/rehabilitation of the Faleme. The methodological approach includes field investigation, water sampling, literature review with cases studies and SWOT analysis of the four methods presented: river dredging, constructed wetlands, floating treatment wetlands and chemical precipitation (coagulation and flocculation). The study confirmed the pollution of the river by suspended solids (TSS > 1100 mg/L) and heavy metals such as iron, zinc, aluminium, and arsenic. For the restoration methods, it was illustrated through description of their mode of operation and through some case studies presented, that all the four methods have proven their effectiveness in treating rivers but have differences in their costs, their sustainability (detrimental to living organisms or causing a second pollution) and social acceptance. They also have weaknesses and issues that must be addressed to ensure success of rehabilitation. For the case of the Faleme river, after analysis, floating treatment wetlands are highly recommended for their low cost, good removal efficiency if the vulnerability of the raft and buoyancy to strong waves and flow is under control.

Modeling a Local Geoid: Application in Thies, Senegal

Many applications in geodesy, hydrography and engineering require determining heights linked to the geoid. Direct leveling, which is the traditional method of obtaining these elevations, is slow, time consuming and expensive. The contribution of space techniques can make it possible to overcome these constraints provided that we have a precision geoid model compatible with that obtained by the GNSS method. There are today relatively precise regional geoid models, at least outside of mountain ranges, in all developed countries, which is not yet the case in developing countries like Senegal. An alternative is to use local models restricted to a small area. Thus, this study aims to produce a geoid model by combining multi-source data for the city of Thies intended mainly to support leveling operations by GNSS. To achieve this objective, direct precision leveling and GNSS leveling (static mode) were carried out covering the study area. The reference points used are, among others, those of the RRS04 (Reference Network of Senegal 2004) and the NGAO53 (General Leveling of West Africa 1953). Additionally, gravimetric measurements were conducted using the Sensor Play-Data Recorder application. The calculation of the model was carried out by the SRBF (Spherical Radial Basis Function) method using the PAGravf4.5 software. The SRBF method uses EGM08 to first calculate height and gravity anomalies. These are then compared with the raw data in order to determine the residuals which will allow the model to be refined. In order to validate our model, control points (GNSS/leveled) were chosen based on a homogeneous geographical distribution in the area in order to evaluate their altitude. An accuracy of less than 2 cm was obtained. Comparing our model with the existing local model GGSV12v1 shows that our model is more accurate.

Contrast Normalization Strategies in Brain Tumor Imaging:From Preprocessing to Classification

Cancer-related to the nervous system and brain tumors is a leading cause of mortality in various countries.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)and computed tomography(CT)are utilized to capture brain images.MRI plays a crucial role in the diagnosis of brain tumors and the examination of other brain disorders.Typically,manual assessment of MRI images by radiologists or experts is performed to identify brain tumors and abnormalities in the early stages for timely intervention.However,early diagnosis of brain tumors is intricate,necessitating the use of computerized methods.This research introduces an innovative approach for the automated segmentation of brain tumors and a framework for classifying different regions of brain tumors.The proposed methods consist of a pipeline with several stages:preprocessing of brain images with noise removal based on Wiener Filtering,enhancing the brain using Principal Component Analysis(PCA)to obtain well-enhanced images,and then segmenting the region of interest using the Fuzzy C-Means(FCM)clustering technique in the third step.The final step involves classification using the Support Vector Machine(SVM)classifier.The classifier is applied to various types of brain tumors,such as meningioma and pituitary tumors,utilizing the Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging(CE-MRI)database.The proposed method demonstrates significantly improved contrast and validates the effectiveness of the classification framework,achieving an average sensitivity of 0.974,specificity of 0.976,accuracy of 0.979,and a Dice Score(DSC)of 0.957.Additionally,this method exhibits a shorter processing time of 0.44 s compared to existing approaches.The performance of this method emphasizes its significance when compared to state-of-the-art methods in terms of sensitivity,specificity,accuracy,and DSC.To enhance the method further in the future,it is feasible to standardize the approach by incorporating a set of classifiers to increase the robustness of the brain classification method.

Synthesis of Reviews on Auscultation, Approaches, and Methods for Engineering Structures

Topometric auscultation is used to monitor the durability of structures, measure deformations linked to the structure of a structure or to the movement of the ground over a part of the globe, set up warning systems, etc. It first appeared as a visual method and rapidly evolved through the various techniques used. Some of these techniques using topography are used in several fields (civil engineering, geodesy, topography, mechanics, nuclear engineering, hydraulics, physics, etc.). These topometric techniques have undergone major changes as a result of technological advances, growing needs in the monitoring of movements or deformations, increased requirements and new challenges. The methodology adopted depends on the measuring instrument used, the parameters to be estimated and access to the area to be measured. There are two types of methods: destructive and non-destructive. In addition to the visual method, they can also be classified as mechanical, physico-chemical, dynamometric, electrophysical and geometric. The estimated parameter varies according to the methodology adopted. It can be defined by coordinates, distances, potential, electrical resistance, etc.

Surgical Treatment of Relapsed Clubfoot Using the Ilizarov Method: Anatomical and Functional Outcomes—A Report of 16 Cases at the Order of Malta’s Hospital Center

Introduction: Relapsed Congenital Talipes Equino Varus (CTEV) refers to clubfoot diagnosed after walking age. We refer to this entity as residual deformities of a previously treated clubfoot or a complete recurrence following treatment. For its treatment, several techniques have been used to improve the foot’s functional outcome while remaining minimally invasive. Correction by distraction using the Ilizarov external fixator is a promising technique. This single-center study aims to evaluate the anatomical and functional outcomes of treatment by distraction and compression with the Ilizarov fixator in relapsed club feet. Patients and Method: We carried out a retrospective, single-center study over 5 years. In total 16 clubfeet in 14 patients, including 9 males and 5 females were retained for final analysis. The average age of the patients at the time of the intervention was 15.16 years. K-wires were placed using the original technique. The average duration of the fixator in our series was 4.27 months. The functional assessment of patients was based on pre-and post-operative evaluation of the Foot and ankle function according to the AOFAS score. Results: Anatomic assessment was done according to the Dimeglio classification. There was a significant improvement at post-operative period with an average score of 4.47 against 10.07 at pre-operative period. We obtained 43.8% good and very good functional outcomes according to the global AOFAS score increasing from 63.07 at pre-operative period to 77.88 at post-operative period. Two cases of reinterventions were recorded. Conclusion: Distraction with the Ilizarov external fixator occupies a place of choice in the management of relapsed club foot. A good mastery of the technique and patient selection produce good functional outcomes.

Validation of the TOPAS Monte-Carlo Code of the Off-Field Dose of a 6 MV Synergy Linac

The risk of radiation-induced second cancer and the late tissue loss due to Off-field doses in radiotherapy remain a serious concern. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is currently one of the most accurate methods for calculating these doses. MC simulation model based on the Particle Simulation Tool (TOPAS) has been developed to simulate the off-field dose of an Elekta Synergy linear accelerator (Linac) emitting 6 MV photons. Measurements were taken in a water phantom using an ionization chamber to validate this model. The Percentage Depth Dose (PDD) at the depth of 0.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0 cm from the beam axis for a 10 × 10 cm2 field size was measured and simulated. Off-field dose profiles at the depth of 1.5 (dmax), 5.0 and 10.0 cm for field sizes of 5 × 5, 10 × 10, 15 × 15, and 20 × 20 cm2 respectively were measured and simulated. Comparison of measured and simulated off-field dose values showed a good agreement. The average gamma passing rate of the PDDs and profiles curves for off-field doses were 87.5% and 98.11% respectively. The local dose difference based on the PDD curve between the measured and simulated was less than 6.0 % for all locations. For all field size considered in this study, the average difference between profile curves for off-field dose measured and simulated was 9.1%. PDDs and Profiles curves for off-field dose simulation uncertainties were less than 2.0% and 1.0% respectively. TOPAS-MC simulation model developed is a good representation of our 6 MV Linac Elekta Synergy for assessing off-field dose, which would be the primary cause of some secondary cancers.

Management of Acute Bowel Obstruction in Adults in Ziguinchor Hospital Establishments: About 163 Cases Followed Up

Acute intestinal obstruction represents a very frequent admission to surgical emergencies. The aim of our study was to make a descriptive analysis of the management of acute intestinal obstructions at the level of hospital establishments in Ziguinchor. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective, descriptive, multicenter study from the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2021. Patients over 15 years of age admitted for occlusive syndrome in the two surgical departments of the Ziguinchor regional hospitals were included in the study. Epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutionary data were studied. Results: Acute intestinal occlusions accounted for 8.3% of admissions. A total of 163 patients were enrolled, 61.9% were men, sex ratio of 1.6. The mean age was 48.7 years. The average consultation time was 74.8 hours (3.12 days). The total occlusive syndrome was in 48.5% of the cases. Abdominal pain was present in 87.1%, vomiting in 74.2%, cessation of matter and gas in 60.7% and meteorism in 36.2%. Biological lab tests reported hyperleukocytosis in 28.1% of the cases. Abdominal CT scans were performed in 71.2%, confirming the diagnosis in 90.5% and determining the etiology in 93.1%. The zone of the obstruction in the small bowel was 62.7%, and in the colon in 37.3%. Functional occlusions accounted for 22.7% of cases and mechanical for 77.3%, including 120 cases of strangulation occlusion (95.2%) and 6 cases of obstruction. Etiologies were dominated by adhesions and/or fibrous bands (61.2%). Medical treatment resolved the occlusive syndrome in 9.2% of cases, instrumental treatment in 17.1% and surgical treatment in 77.3%. Adhesiolysis/section of fibrous bands (55.7%), detorsion (14.3%) and resection anastomosis (11.9%) were the most common surgical procedures. Overall morbidity was 11.6%, dominated by surgical site infection (7.14%). The mean resumption of intestinal transit was 2.7 days, and the mean hospital stay was 7.9 days. Overall mortality was 6.7%. Conclusion: Acute intestinal obstruction is a frequent, absolute medical-surgical emergency, with multiple etiologies dominated in our series by adhesions and/or fibrous bands, whose morbi-mortality could be reduced by early and appropriate management before the onset of intestinal necrosis.

Multi-Elemental Analysis and 2D Image Mapping within Roots, Leaves and Seeds from O. glaberrima Rice Plants Using Micro-PIXE Technique

Understanding metal accumulation at organ level in roots, leaves and seeds in O. glaberrima (OG) is crucial for improving physiological and metabolic aspects in growing Asian and African rice in salted areas. The micro-analytical imaging techniques are required to reveal its accumulation and distribution within plant tissues. PIXE studies have been performed to determine different elements in rice plants. The existing microbeam analytical technique at the iThemba LABS will be applied for the 2D image mapping of fresh rice tissues to perform a concentration of low atomic mass elements (such as Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Br, Zn and K) with detection limits of typically 1-10 μg/g. Comparison of the distribution of the elements between leaves, root and seed samples using uptake and distribution of elements in particular environmental conditions with potential amount of salt in water have been performed. We are also expecting to indicate metal exclusion as salt tolerance strategies from leaves, root, and seed compartments using matrix correlation between samples and between elements on rice species.

A Large, Inflamed Knee, Pulling down the Wolf Mask

Introduction: Joint manifestations are common in systemic lupus, affecting multiple joints or just one. These manifestations are present in 95% of patients. Pseudo-septic arthritis is a subset of systemic lupus that mimics septic arthritis caused by the deposition of lipid droplets in the joint. We present the case of a patient hospitalized for mono-arthritis, which revealed systemic lupus. Observation: The patient is a 19-year-old woman, single, without children, and with no previous medical history, who was hospitalized for fever and inflammatory polyarthralgia. The clinical examination revealed an inflammatory swelling of the right knee with patellar ballottement, yellow citrine synovial fluid, an inflammatory tumor on the left arm, which was round, mobile, and fluctuating with purulent content, edema of the lower limbs, and facial puffiness, along with a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Paraclinical examination showed hyperleukocytosis with neutrophil predominance, microcytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, antistreptolysin O (ASLO) 3, suggesting inflammatory arthritis. Bacteriological tests did not isolate any pathogens. An arthrotomy with synovial biopsy was performed, and the histopathological examination supported non-specific synovitis. A joint ultrasound showed signs of arthritis with a septic appearance. During the third hospitalization for persistent fever, she presented with facial puffiness, anemia syndrome, systemic inflammatory response syndrome, and a malar rash across the bridge of the nose. Antinuclear antibodies returned positive with a titer of 1280 and a speckled fluorescence pattern, and anti-native DNA antibodies were positive at 60.1 (normal Conclusion: Pseudo-septic arthritis is a feature of lupus that can mimic septic arthritis. Monoarticular involvement is rare but possible. The absence of pathogens and the inflammatory nature of the synovial fluid should prompt consideration of a lupus-related etiology.

Evaluation of the Care of Children Aged 0 to 10 Years Hospitalized for Severe Malaria at the Tambacounda Health Center, Senegal

Introduction: Malaria remains a public health priority in Senegal, particularly in Tambacounda, where it is one of the main causes of child mortality. The objective of this work was to evaluate the care of children under 10 years of age hospitalized at the Tambacounda Health Center and the factors associated with recovery. Methods: An analytical, retrospective, and descriptive cross-sectional study with exhaustive recruitment of children 0 to 120 months hospitalized at the Tambacounda reference health center for severe malaria (according to WHO criteria) between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021 was performed. Data collection was done through a questionnaire. Records, hospitalization records, and treatment records were the sources of collection. Data entry and analysis were performed on Epi Info 7.2 and R. Results: A total of 481 children hospitalized with severe malaria were recruited. The highest number of cases was recorded in 2018 (33.05%). In the four years of the study, peaks were always observed between October and November and the highest peak in November 2020 with 95 cases. The mean age was 65.64 months with a standard deviation of 29.28 months and a predominance of male (53.43%). The majority of people were admitted from the outpatient clinic (57.79%) and the rest (42.21%) on the recommendation of a peripheral health post. All hospitalized patients had a positive RDT and/or a positive thick drop. However, the sharp decline at admission or during hospitalization was positive in 93.80% of patients in our series, negative in 5.20% and not achieved in 1.00%. Seizures and severe anemia topped the list of signs of severity with 45.94% and 8.11%, respectively. In terms of evolution, for all hospitalized patients, there were 81.29% recovery, 10.19% referral to the Tambacounda regional hospital center for hospitalization, 4.99% death, 0.83% discharge and 2.70% unknown evolution. There was a statistically significant association between recovery without referral from a health post (OR = 1.85), absence of 2 or more signs of severity (OR = 1.82), absence of seizures (OR = 1.51), prostration (OR = 2.78), cardiovascular shock (OR = 6.67), coma (OR = 7.69), lack of evidence of biological severity (OR = 3.70), and hypoglycemia with blood glucose less than 0.4 g/L (OR = 5.88). Conclusion: In addition to the routine malaria prevention and management strategies implemented in Tambacounda, and the early referral of cases of severe malaria from health posts to the health center, all children hospitalized for severe malaria with certain symptomatology such as coma, prostration, cardiovascular shock, etc. Seizures and/or hypoglycemia should be systematically referred to the regional hospital to increase their chance of recovery.

Body Composition in Sickle Cell Disease Patients in the Steady State

Introduction: Previous studies in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients have demonstrated low muscle mass (MM) and high fat mass (FM) percentages compared to individuals with normal hemoglobin. The relationship between the evolutions of body composition (BC) parameters in the active SCD population is not well elucidated. The aim of the present study was to assess the body composition in active adult SCD patients in sub-Saharan Africa during the inter-critical period. Methodology: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study over an 8-month period. Eighteen SCD patients (sex ratio = 1) reported regular physical activity (RPA) corresponding to level 3 (RPA of moderate intensity) of the 4-level Saltin-Grimby physical activity scale were recruited. Anthropometric and BC parameters such as BMI, percentage FM and percentage MM were evaluated using an impedance meter. Results: The study population had a mean age of 26 ± 7 years and a mean BMI of 20.5 ± 1.9 kg/m2. We found a significantly higher percentage of FM in women compared to the men (25.6% ± 10.2% vs 11.1% ± 2.1%;p = 0.001). For the proportion of MM, all the women had a normal percentage. The men mostly had high levels of MM compared with reference norms. Men had significantly greater MM percentages than women (45.4% ± 1.8% vs. 26.5% ± 1.4%;p Conclusion: RPA appears to have positive effects on BC in active population with SCD, and a greater-than-expected effect was observed on MM in male patients. Promoting regular, adapted physical activity would be a promising way of improving BC parameters and quality of life in the SCD population. Further studies with larger cohorts will be needed to better substantiate these results.

Bearing Capacity Analysis of Spread Footing on Massif in the “Corniche Ouest” of the Dakar Peninsula (Senegal, West Africa)

This study presents various approaches to calculating the bearing capacity of spread footings applied to the rock mass of the western corniche at the tip of the Dakar peninsula. The bearing capacity was estimated using empirical, analytical and numerical approaches based on the parameters of the rock mass and the foundation. Laboratory tests were carried out on basanite, as well as on the other facies detected. The results of these studies give a range of allowable bearing capacity values varying between 1.92 and 11.39 MPa for the empirical methods and from 7.13 to 25.50 MPa for the analytical methods. A wide dispersion of results was observed according to the different approaches. This dispersion of results is explained by the use of different rock parameters depending on the method used. The allowable bearing capacity results obtained with varying approaches of calculation remain admissible to support the loads. On the other hand, the foundation calculations show acceptable settlement of the order of a millimeter for all the layers, especially in the thin clay layers resting on the bedrock at shallow depths, where the rigidity of the rock reduces settlement.

Prostate Cancer in the Thies Region, Senegal: Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects

Introduction: Prostate cancer is the leading urological cancer. It is the most common cancer in men over 50. Objective: To determine the epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of prostate cancer in hospitals in the Thiès region. Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive study from January 1st, 2015 to December 31st, 2020. We included all cases of primary prostate cancer confirmed on histology. Results: We collected data on 318 cases of primary prostate cancer during the study period. Mean patient age was 72.7 years (Range: 49;94 years). Family history of prostate cancer was found in 22 patients (6.91%). The average consultation time was 18.6 months. The circumstances of discovery were dominated by obstructive voiding disorders (97.16%). Digital Rectal examination was suggestive in 55.40% of patients. PSA level was above 20 ng/ml in 76.7% of patients. Prostatic adenocarcinoma was the only histological type (100%). Localized cancer represented 7.2% and locally advanced cancer occurred in 36.5% of cases, while metastatic cancer accounted for 56.3%. Radical prostatectomy was performed in 3.18% of cases. Mortality rate was estimated at 8.50% after 1 year. Conclusion: Prostate cancer is the leading urological cancer in the Thies region. It is characterized by the predominance of locally advanced and metastatic forms.